In front of a packed crowd at Saint Joseph’s University, the Carolina Gold Rush defeated defending champion Texas Smash, cementing their place in American table tennis history and winning the vaunted MLTT Cup.
Carolina’s victory was powered by two MVPs: team captain and 2024 men’s MVP Enzo Angles, and newly crowned 2025 men’s MVP Satoshi Aida. The duo combined for 15 team points during Sunday’s title bout in front of a raucous, sellout crowd.
“This is a special group,” said Flint Lane, MLTT Founder and Commissioner. “Carolina was consistent, focused, and relentless all season. They earned this moment, and it’s a testament to how high the level of play has risen across the league.”
Carolina entered the postseason as the top seed in the East Division, defeating the Bay Area Blasters in the semifinals. They then overcame a Texas squad with championship experience in a back-and-forth final full of momentum swings and strategic substitutions.
The championship caps a breakout year for Major League Table Tennis, which saw YouTube viewership increase by more than 500% over Season 1, record-setting attendance, and the launch of the league’s first national television partnership with CBS Sports.
